Electric cut-out



(No Model.) V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. A. CHASE.

ELECTRIC GUT-OUT.

No. 432,978. Patented July 29, 1890.

25595 I LIT Swim l I6 5? 60. m6,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. CHASE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,978, dated July 29, 1890. Application filed March 27, 1890. Serial No. 345,567. (No model.) a

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY A. CHASE, of Boston, county of Sr1fiolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Electric Out-Outs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a protector for electrical instruments which shall operate upon the presence of an abnormal current to shunt out and immediately thereafter cut out the instrument, although in some instances it may only shunt out the instrument and in others it may only cut out the instrument; but in any event the direction of the current is to be diverted from passing through the instrument.

In accordance with this invention, two helices are included in the circuitone at each side of the instrument to beprotectedand I have preferably wound them on the same core, and hence in the same direction, although an independent core might be used for each helix. The core is made quite long, and the helices each comprise a good many turns, to thereby form a magnet of high self-induction.

An armature is provided for the electromagnet, which controls a shunt-circuit closer of any suitable construction, although for practical use I prefer a special form, which I herein denominate a gravity-shunt, it consisting of apivoted armadapted when released or moved bythearmature of the electro-magnet to close a shunt-circuit around the instrument to be protected, and by its great range of movement a perfect contact can be insured. Fuse-wires, preferably of high resistance, as German-silver wire, are also employed, preferably two in number, one being included in circuit at each side of the instrument to be protected, and bridge-walls are placed between the posts or supports of said fuse-wires, which serve to prevent the formation or cause the immediate destruction of any are caused or which might be caused by rupture of the fuse-wires. The fuse wire or wires are located near the shunt, so as to be influenced by the counter-electro-motive force produced by shunting the instrument, and to decrease the resistance as much as possible between the shunt and fuse-wires I prefer to place the electro-qnagnet between the shunt formed and the instrument to be protected.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation an electric switch or cut-out embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the cut-out shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the cut-out shown in Fig. 2, taken on the dotted line :0 00, looking toward the right. Fig. 3 is a view of the upper end of plate 0; Fig. 4, a diagram showing the circuits of the device shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a similar diagram showing the electro-magnet placed between the shunt and fuse-wires; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8, modifications to be referred to.

The base-plate A has arranged on itan electro-magnet, which for the accomplishment of the best results consists of a core a, having two helices a a wound thereon in the same direction. (See Fig. 4.) The core a is made quite long and quite large in diameter, and

the helices a a each comprise a good many turns.

mature having a hole through it, which, receives loosely a guide-pin 11 of the armature b is forked (see Fig. 2) to reoeive the upper end of a plate 0, pivoted at c, and having at its upper or outer end two laterally-extended projections c c one at each sidewhioh when the plate is raised passes by pins or projections c on the inside of the forked end of the armature. A block (Z, of conducting material, is secured to or formed integral with the plate 0. This plate 0 and block (Z, I herein term a gravity shunt or drop.

A hole (1 is made on the base-plate, and two.pens or yielding arms (1 d extend up through said hole d, terminating a short dis tance apart. \Vhen the gravity shunt or drop falls, the block (Z, which preferably has a V- shaped edge, enters between the two pens d (Z and, being made of metal, makes metallic contact therewith. WVhile I prefer to employ a gravity-shunt of this kind, yet any other formImay be made very effective.

The armature b has a spring 19 at its rear end, which bears against an adj ust-ing-screw b, by which the tension on the armature can be adjusted. t

The wire which is used in the electro-mag- The armature Z) of the said electro magnet is pivoted at I? to a stand 17 said ar-' The outer end net is of large size or gage, so that the armature b is normally retracted, even though the circuit in which the helices are included is closed; but when an abnormal current passes over the line the armature will ordinarily be attracted and the gravity shunt or drop will fall. I have also arranged on the same baseplate four posts 2 3 4t 5, and have connected the posts 2 3 and the posts 4 5 with fuse-wires 6 7, of any usual or suitable material or composition of high resistance-suchfior instance, as German-silver wire of fine gage. I have also placed a wall 0' between the posts 3 5, and another wall 1" at right angles to it between the posts 2 3 and 4: 5, and have provided said wall 2" with small holes, through which the fusewires pass.

When an abnormal current passes over the line and the fuse-wire melts or ruptures, the are which forms will be blown or ruptured by the said wall.

The wall t is for the purpose of preventing the formation of an are between the posts 3 5.

The protector herein described is connected in circuit, as best shown in Fig. 4, the linewire at one side of the instrument to be'protected including the post 3, fuse-wire 6, post 2, pen (Z and helix a and at the other side of the instrument to be protected including the post 5, fuse-wire 7, post 4, pen (Z and helix a. Upon the passage of an abnormal current over the line, the armature being attracted, the gravity-shunt falls, shunting out the instrument, as well as the electro-magnet, and thereby decreasing the resistance between the fuse-wires 6 7 and forming a new path for the current when, by the counter-electro-motive force, or kick, as it is commonly called,the fuse-wires will be instantly ruptured. If the current shall be one which for any reason will not affect the electro-magnet, then the fuse- -wires may melt and open the circuit, and if the current be one that will not rupture the fuse-wires, even when short-circuited, the instrument willbe shunted out in that event.

I desire it to be understood that the walls herein shown-one or both of them-for preventing the formation of or for destroying an arc may be usedin cut-outs wherein an electromagnet is omitted, and also that the electromagnet may be employed to operate a gravity shunt or drop, even though the fuse-wires are omitted, and, furthermore, in lieu of the particular form of shunt-circuit closer shown in Figs. 1 and 4, anyother well-known or suitable form may be employed.

WVhile I prefer to employ an electro-magnet of the kind herein shownviz., comprising a core and two helices wound in the said direction to augment the magnetic effectI desire it to be understood that two helices,

each having its own core, may be employed In Fig. 5 I have placed the electro-magnet I between the shunt and fuse-wires, by which arrangement I have produced very eflicient results.

I claim- 1. In an electric cut-out, an electro-magnet and its armature combined with a gravity shunt-circuit closer comprising a movable member held in position to be released by said armature, and two pens (Z (1 included in circuit with the instrument to be protected, one at each side thereof, with which the said movable member co-operates, and fuse-wires included in the line near the pens (Z (Z substantially as described.

2. In an electric cut-out, an electro-magnet comprising a core and two helices, each included in circuit with the instrument to be protected, one helix at each side thereof, an armature for. the said electroqnagnet, and a gravity-shunt adapted to be released by the attraction of said armature, and contact-pens with which said gravity-shunt co-operates, substantially as described.

3. In an electric cut-out, an electromagnet, an armature therefor, and a gravity-shunt consisting of a plate and a block of conducting material \I-shaped in cross-section, combined with two pens (1 61 between which the said block enters when it falls, said pens being in cluded in the line, one at each side ofthe instrument to be protected, substantially as described.

at. In an electric cut-out, an electromagnet, an armature therefor having a forked end provided with pins 0 0 combined with a gravity-shunt consisting of a pivoted plate having lateral projections 0 0 which co-operate with the pins 0 0 a block, as (l, and contact-pens (1* (1 substantially as described.

5. In an electric cut-out, an electro-magnet of high self-induction comprising two helices, one included in circuit at each side of the instrument to be protected, a shunt-circuit closer controlled by said electro-magnet, and two fuse-wires 6 7 which are located adjacent said shunt-circuit closer, and which are ruptured by the counterelectro-motive force caused by closing said shunt, substantially as described.

6. In an electric cut-out, an electro-magnet of high self-induction comprising two he lices, one included in circuit at each side of the instrument to be protected, a single core upon IOC :5 closer, said electro-magnet being included in the line between the said shunt-circuit closer and the instrument to be protected, and a fuse-wire included in the line at the opposite side of said shunt-circuit closer to be ruptured by the counter electro-motive force caused by closing said shunt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. CHASE.

Witnesses:

GEo. W. GREGORY, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

